• Overview
• BC Graduates
  • Application Information
  • Fee Information
  • Leaving BC?
• Canadian Graduates
  • Application Information
  • Fee Information
  • Language Proficiency
  • Alberta Applicants
  • Labour Mobility
• International Graduates
  • Application Process
  • Country-Specific Information
  • Fee Information
  • Language Proficiency
  • Translation Policy
  • PQP Graduates
• First Nations Language
  • Application Package
• Letters of Permission
• Previously Certified Teachers
• Information Sessions

Leaving BC to Teach in Another Province or Country

If you are planning to move to another province or country to teach, you should:

• apply for a certificate from the BC College of Teachers
• apply for a certificate from the teacher certification authority in the new jurisdiction.

To avoid delay, complete and submit the Statement of Professional Standing request form when you apply to us for your certificate. We will issue your BC Statement of Professional Standing at the same time that we issue your teaching certificate.

If you are planning to teach outside of Canada, the education authority in your new jurisdiction may or may not require you to submit your BC teaching certificate or BC Statement of Professional Standing. However, we recommend that you apply for your BC certificate once you have completed your teacher education program. If you wait to apply, the process will take longer and you will need to submit additional documentation. Also, if regulations change, there is the possibility that you might no longer qualify for a BC certificate.

The importance of maintaining your BC certificate

Once you qualify for a BC certificate, keep your certificate valid by paying the annual membership fee even if you are not teaching in BC. If you do not pay your annual membership fee, we will cancel your certificate and you may not qualify for reinstatement in the future.

If you are not teaching in BC, you can maintain your membership in the College at half the amount of the annual fee by selecting “non-practising status” when you pay your annual membership fee. If you then decide to teach in BC, contact us to let us know about your new status. We will charge you the applicable top-up fee and reactivate your status as a practising educator. You can be a practising teacher outside of BC while you maintain your non-practising status in BC.